Homecoming in Crimea

Monday, December 28, 2015 - 01:08

Group of marines who served at the Russian Hmeimym air base in Syria fly back to Crimea.

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ROUGH CUT - SUBTITLED (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: Russian transport IL-76 plane landed at Crimean Belbek air base on Sunday (December 27) night bringing home 186 marines who completed their mission in Syria.
The marines from Russia's Black Sea Fleet spent about two months in Syria guarding Russia's Hmeimym air base.
There are an estimated 5,000 Russian personnel in Syria, including pilots, ground crews, intelligence personnel, and security units protecting Russian bases, along with advisers to the Syrian government forces.
The Kremlin began its campaign of air strikes against militants in Syria on September 30, saying it wanted to help the Kremlin's main Middle East ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, defeat Islamic State and other militant groups.